Printing structure having plural type wheels



g- 8, 1967 J. E. HICKERSON PRINTING STRUCTURE HAVING PLURAL TYPE WHEELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 50, 1965 INVENTOR JOHN E. HICKERSON FIG. I

ATTORNEY g- 8, 1967 J. E. HICKERSON 3,334,721

PRINTING STRUCTURE HAVING PLURAL TYPE WHEELS Filed June 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet :1:

United States Patent 3,334,721 PRINTING STRUCTURE HAVING PLURAL TYPE WHEELS John E. Hickerson, Lexington, Ky., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y.,

a corporation of New York Filed June 30, 1965, Ser. No. 468,263 12 Claims. (Cl. 197-50) This invention relates to a rotary printing head and, more particularly, to a rotary printing head for typewriters or the like in which each character to be printed may be rapidly selected with all movements to position a character for printing occurring simultaneously.

In various instances such as when typing scientific papers, for example, the number of available characters on a standard typewriter is insutficient to provide all of the required characters. If the various scientific characters are substituted for the usual characters, then there are not enough usual characters available to permit typing of the scientific paper.

Accordingly, various means have been employed to avoid this problem. One has been to utilize two typewriters with a single carriage. Thus, one of the typewriters has a keyboard with the usual characters while the other has the required scientific characters. thereon. In this arrangement, it is necessary for the typist to move the carriage from the typewriter having the usual characters on its keyboard to the other typewriter whenever it is desired to type a scientific character and then return the carriage to the typewriter having the keyboard with the usual characters. While this is quite slow, it is more desirable than removing the paper fi'om one typewriter and placing it in another typewriter to type the scientific character. Obviously, this latter arrangement is very time consuming in order to provide proper alignment of the paper.

The present invention satisfactorily solves the foregoing problems by providing a printing head having a high character capacity. The present invention utilizes a plurality of rotatably mounted type heads, which may be quickly moved to the printing position, with each of the type heads having a plurality of characters arranged thereon in columns and rows.

While the use of a plurality of rotatably mounted type heads on a support member has been previously employed in typewriters such as those employed to type Chinese language characters, for example, these typewriters have been very slow in operation and have required the actuation of a plurality of keys to produce a single character. These typewriters have employed a sequential operation to position each character for printing so that the selection of each character is very slow. The present invention overcomes this type of problem when using a plurality of rotatably mounted type heads on a rotatably mounted support member by simultaneously performing all operations for selection of a character on one of the type heads for printing.

The present invention not only causes simultaneous movement of all of the mechanisms to position the selected character at the printing position, but it also eliminates any type of differential movement between the various moving members. Thus, the present invention elimi-' nates the movement of any of the members effecting the movement of any of the other members so that a simple construction is produced.

With the present invention, the amount of movement in any direction is substantially reduced by having three different coordinates of movement. This use of three different coordinates of movement, with each independent from the others, creates a high capacity type head in which high speed typing may be achieved.

By utilizing a plurality of rotatably mounted type heads on a rotatably mounted support member, the movement of any member is substantially reduced. This reduces the moment arm required to position the selected character at the printing position so that rapid selection of characters is produced.

An object of this invention is to provide a comparatively small printing head having a large number of characters thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary printing head in which all necessary movements to position a selected character at a printing position occur simultaneously.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rotary printing device having a plurality of rotatably mounted type heads thereon.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. -1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of one form of the rotary printing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective View illustrating actuating mechanisms for use with the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the type heads of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another modification of the rotary printing device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown one form of the rotary printing device of the present invention including a rotatably mounted support member 1. The support member 1 includes a I cylindrical center portion 2 having a disc 3 formed integral with its upper end and a disc 4 formed integral with its lower end.

The support member 1 has a hollow shaft 5 centrally disposed with respect thereto and extending from the lower c 4. If desired, the cylindrical portion 2 of the support member 1 could be eliminated and the hollow shaft 5 extended upwardly to at least the disc 3.

A plurality of type heads 6 is rotatably mounted on the support member 1 between the discs 3 and 4. Each of the type heads 6 is fixed to a shaft 7, which preferably extends through the type head 6 and projects from either end thereof. The lower end of each of the shafts 7 is received in an opening 8 in the lower disc 4 of the support member -1. The upper end of each of the shafts 7 extends through an opening 9 in the upper disc 3.

The openings 8 and 9 are disposed the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of the support member 1. Thus, when the support member 1 rotates, the type heads 6 rotate therewith about the axis of rotation of the support member 1.

The portion of each of the shafts 7 extending beyond the upper disc 3 has a planetary gear 10 secured thereto. Thus, whenever the gear 10 is driven, the type head 6 rotates about the axis of the shaft 7 with respect to the support member 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the type heads 6 is formed with a plurality of characters thereon arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows. The characters in each of the columns are spaced from each other. When the type head 6 has four columns thereon, each of the vertical columns is disposed substantially ninety degrees with respect to each of the adjacent columns. Thus, the four characters in each of the rows actually face ninety degrees 3 (see FIG. 3). This insures that only one character will be printed.

Of course, the number of horizontal rows and the number of vertical columns would depend upon the required number of characters. When using eight of the type heads 6 with four vertical columns and four vertical rows, a total of 128 characters is available for selection. Obviously, the number of rows of characters and the number of columns of characters may be varied as desired. Similarly, the number of the type heads 6 may be varied as desired. Accordingly, the rotary printing device of the present invention has a high character capacity and is much smaller than other types of printing heads having the same or less character capacity.

Each of the planetary gears 10 has its teeth meshing with teeth on a sun gear 11, which is attached to the upper end of a hollow shaft 12. The shaft 12 extends through the cylindrical center portion 2 of the support member 1 and has its lower end disposed within the interior of the hollow shaft 5. The shaft 12 extends through the upper disc 3 and the lower disc 4 of the support member 1 and is rotatably mounted with respect to the support member 1.

A hearing 14 surrounds the shaft 12 between the upper surface of the disc 3 and the lower surface of the sun gear 11. A second bearing 15 surrounds-the shaft 12 adjacent the lower surface of the lower disc 4 of the support member 1. Both of the bearings 14 and 15 are secured to the shaft 12.

Whenever the hollow shaft 12 is rotated, the sun gear 11 rotates all of the planetary gears 10 to rotate all of the type heads 6 about the axes of the shafts 7. The amount of rotation'of the shaft 12 determines the particular vertical column of characters on the type head 6 that is to be presented at the printing position. The particular type head 6, which is to be disposed at the printing position, is determined by rotation of the support member 1 through rotation of the hollow shaft 5- The hollow shaft 5 has a gear 16 formed on its outer wall. The teeth of the gear 16 mesh with teeth of a gear 17. The teeth of the gear 17 are of sufficient length so that the hollow shaft 5 may move axially and still have the teeth of the gear 16 mesh with the teeth of the gear 17. Thus, whenever the gear 17 is rotated, the support member 1 is rotated about its axis of rotation, which is the axis of rotation of the hollow shaft 5, to position one of the type heads 6 at the printing position.

The printing position is where a face of a pivotally mounted hammer 18 engages one of the characters on one of the type heads 6. One example of a movable printing hammer is shown in US. Patent 2,757,775 to Hickerson. Since any type of pivotally mounted hammer may be employed, the hammer 18 will not be described in detail herein. It should be understood that movement of the hammer 1-8 will cause its face to move a sheet of paper 19 and a ribbon 20 into engagement with one of the characters on the type head 6, which is positioned for engagement by the face of the hammer 18.

The lower end of the hollow shaft 12 has a pin or stud 21 attached thereto and extending through an axial slot 22 in a hollow shaft 23. The axis of the hollow shaft 23 is aligned with the axis of the hollow shaft '5 and the axis of the hollow shaft 12.

The hollow shaft 23 has a cam slot 24 formed in its wall and extending therethrough. A pin or stud 25, which is attached to the upper end of a hollow shaft 26, extends through the cam slot 24 in the hollow shaft 23.

The lower end of the hollow shaft 23 has an annular groove 27 formed therein to receive a pin or stud 28, which is secured to a fixed portion 29 of a typewriter or the like with which the rotary printing device of the present invention may be utilized. Thus, the hollow shaft 23 may not be moved axially due to the pin or stud 28 riding within the annular groove 27 at the lower end of the hollow shaft 23.

The lower end of the hollow shaft 26 has an annular groove 30 formed therein. One end of a pivotally mounted bellcrank 31 has a pair of opposed fingers 32 disposed within the annular groove 30. Thus, whenever the bellcrank 31 is pivoted, it will cause movement of the hollow shaft 26 in an axial direction. However, because of the arrangement between the fingers 32 of the bellcrank 31 and the annular groove 30 in the lower end of the hollow shaft 26, the hollow shaft 26 may rotate with respect to the bellcrank 31.

When the bellcrank 31 is pivoted to lift the hollow shaft 26 upwardly, the pin or stud 25 causes rotation of the hollow shaft 23 due to cooperation between the pin 25 and the cam slot 24 in the hollow shaft 23. The rotation of the hollow shaft 23 about its axis causes rotation of the hollow shaft '12 about its axis due to the connection of the hollow shaft 12 with the hollow shaft 23 through the pin 21 riding in the axial slot 22. The rotation of the hollow shaft 12 causes the sun gear 11 to rotate all of the planetary gears 10 whereby one of the vertical columns on one of the type heads is presented in the vertical plane of the printing position.

The pin 25, which extends through the cam slot 24 in the hollow shaft 23, also extends through an axial slot 33 in the Wall of the hollow shaft 5. Thus, the hollow shaft 26 may be moved axially relative to the hollow shaft 5 without effecting axial movement'of the hollow shaft 5. However, any rotative movement of the hollow shaft 5 will cause rotation of the hollow shaft 26 about its axis.

Because the pin 25 is positioned within the cam slot 24 of the hollow shaft 23, rotation of the hollow shaft 26 due to rotation of the hollow shaft 5 also causes the hollow shaft 23 to rotate. The rotation of the hollow shaft 23 is transmitted to the hollow shaft 12 through the pin and slot connection so that the sun gear 11 rotates at the same speed as the support member 1. This prevents any relative movement between the planetary gears 10 and the sun gear 11. Otherwise, the type heads 6 would rotate about their axes of rotation when the support member 1 is rotated by the hollow shaft 5.

Of course, this arrangement allows the shaft 26 to be moved axially by the bellcrank 31 at the same time that the hollow shaft 5 is being rotated. Accordingly, the desired vertical column of the desired type head 6 may be positioned in the vertical plane of the printing position at the same time that the desired type head 6 is being moved to the printing position by rotation of the hollow shaft 5.

While rotation of the hollow shaft 5 positions one of the type heads 6 at the printing position and rotation of the sun gear 11 positions one of the vertical columns on the type head 6 at the printing position, it is still necessary to position one of the rows of characters of the type head 6 in the horizontal plane of the printing position to have the selected character at the printing position. This is accomplished by moving the support member 1 axially.

Axial movement of the support member 1 is produced by a pivotally mounted bellcrank 34. One end of the bellcrank 34 has opposed fingers 35, which ride in an annular groove 36 at the lower end of the hollow shaft 5. The arrangement of the fingers 35 riding within the groove 36 permits the hollow shaft 5 to rotate with respect to the bellcrank 34.

Proper positioning of a selected character at the printing position requires actuation of the gear 17, the bellcrank 31, and the bellcrank 34 by suitable mechanism whenever a typewriter key, which has the selected character thereon, is actuated. The bellcrank 31 has a link 37 pivotally connected to its end remote from the fingers 32. The link 37 causes movement of the bellcrank 31 in accordance with the typewriter key that is actuated.

The link 37 is pivotally connected to a bellcrank 38, which is connected to an output link 39 of a linkage system of the type shown in US. Patent 2,919,002 to Palmer. As more particularly described in the aforesaid Palmer patent, this type of linkage, which is known as a whiflietree, produces a varying output depending on the key actuated. Thus, the amount of movement of the bellcrank 31 determines the particular column of the four vertical columns on the type head 6 to be presented at the printing position.

The output or connecting link 39 is connected to a floating link 40, which is connected to each of links 41 and 42. A rod 43 is secured to the link 41, and a rod 44 is attached to the link 42.

Each of the rods 43 and 44 is moved in accordance with the actuated key. Thus, if neither of the rods 43 and 44 is moved, the type head 6 is not rotated about its axis. However, actuation of the rod 43 will cause presentation of one of the other-three columns at the printing position, actuation of the rod 44 will cause presentation of a second of the other three columns at the printing position, and actuation of both of the rods 43 and 44 results in the third of the other three columns being moved to the printing position.

Accordingly, all of the typewriter keys having characters in a particular vertical column on all of the type heads 6 will produce the same amount of rotation of the type heads 6 about their axes of rotation. The selected character determines whether one, both, or neither of the rods 43 and 44 are actuated.

The bellcrank 34 is connected to a link 45 at the end remote from the fingers 35. The amount of movement of the bellcrank 34 is determined by movement of the link 45, which is connected through a bellcrank 46 to a second linkage system such as of the type shown and described in the aforesaid Palmer patent.

The amount of movement of the bellcrank 34 determines the particular horizontal row that is disposed in the horizontal plane of the printing position. Accordingly, all of the typewriter keys having characters in one of the horizontal rows produce the same amount of movement of the bellcrank 34.

The gear 17 has a shaft 47 attached thereto with a gear 48 secured to the lowermost portion of the shaft 47. One end of a rack 49 has teeth thereon to mesh with the gear 48 to rotate the gear 17 whereby the hollow shaft 5 is rotated about its axis of rotation. The other end of the rack 49 is connected to a bellcrank 50, which is actuated by a linkage system of the type shown and described in the aforesaid Palmer patent.

The amount of movement of the rack 49 determnies the amount of rotation of the hollow shaft 5. This determines the type head 6 that is to be positioned with one of its vertical columns in the vertical plane of the printing position. Actuation of any key having any of the characters on any one of the type heads 6 will produce the same amount of movement of the rack 49.

Accordingly, actuation of a typewriter key produces three simultaneous movements. These are rotation of the hollow shaft 5 about its axis of rotation to position one of the type heads 6 adjacent the hammer 18, axial movement of the hollow shaft 5 to position one of the horizontal rows of the type head 6 in the same horizontal plane as the face of the printing hammer 18, and rotation of the type heads 6 about their axes of rotation by the sun gear 11 to dispose one of the vertical columns in the vertical plane of the face of the hammer 18.

Of course, only one movement may be necessary to position a specific character at the printing position. For example, if the letter F has been typed and the letter K is now selected, the only necessary movement is to move the support member 1 axially to dispose the letter K at the printing position. Since the letters F and K are in the same vertical column and on the same type head 6, there is no necessity of moving either the type head 6 about its axis of rotation or the support member 1 about its axis of rotation.

.6! V As another example, if the letter F has been typed and it is desired to type a letter in the same horizontal row on another of the type heads 6 as the next character, the

actuation of the typewriter key having the next character thereon will cause movement of the type head 6 about its axis of rotation and of the support member 1 about its axis of rotation. However, since the letter F and the next character to be typed are in the same horizontal plane, there is no axial movement of the support member 1. Accordingly, actuation of any particular character.

key may cause movement of only one of the gear 17 and the bellcranks 31 and 34.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is relevant to when the support member 1 and the type heads 6 are not returned to any home positions. Obviously, if the support member 1 and the type heads 6 are returned to home positions, a different type of operation would occur. For example, if the home position for the vertical column was the column having the letter B, there would be mvoement of the bellcrank 31 as well as the bellcrank 34 to move from the letter F to the letter K. Furthermore, if another of the type heads 6 were the home position, there also would be movement of the gear 17 when selecting the letter K after typing the letter F. However, in such a home position arrangement, there would be other selected characters wherein it would be necessary to only create movement of one of the bellcranks 31 and 34 and the gear 17.

It should be understood that a shift key is not necessary with the rotary printing head of the present invention. However, if a shift key is desired to reduce the number of keys on the typewriter, then either the top two horizontal rows or the bottom two horizontal rows must be allocated to the upper case letters or half of the type heads 6 must have the lower case letters thereon and the other half of the type heads 6 must have the upper case characters thereon.

If the shift key is employed with half of the type heads 6 having upper case letters on their peripheries, actuation of the shift key would cause rotation of the gear 17 to rotate the hollow shaft 5. If the upper case letters were employed on two of the four horizontal rows of characters while the lower case letters were on the other two rows of characters (either above or below the first two rows of characters), then actuation of the shift key would cause movement of the bellcrank 34 to cause axial movement of the support member 1.

A pawl 55 (see FIG. 1) is pivotally mounted for cooperation with the teeth on the gear 16 ot prevent movement of the hollow shaft 5 about its axis of rotation after the character has been selected until printing of the selected character is completed. In the same manner as the gear 17 has a sufficient length to compensate for the axial motion of the hollow shaft 5, the pawl 55 also has sulficient length to provide for this compensation.

A spring (not shown) constantly urges the pawl 55 into engagement with the teeth of the gear 16. However, a cam 55 (see FIG. 2), which is mounted on a shaft 57,- cooperates with a portion of the pawl 55 to prevent thespring from moving the pawl 55 into engagement with the teeth of the gear 16 until the selected character is at the printing position. As soon as the selected character has been printed, the cam 56 withdraws the pawl 55 from engagement with the gear 16.

A second detent means is employed to prevent axial movement of the hollow shaft 5 after the selected character is at the printing position until after the selected character has been printed; The second detent means includes a plurality of annular teeth 58, which are formed on the exterior of the hollow shaft 5, and a pivotally mounted pawl 59. The pawl 59 is urged into engagement 'with the teeth 55 by a spring (not shown).

A cam 60, which is mounted on the shaft 57, cooperates with a portion of the pawl 59 to overcome the force of l the axial motion of the the spring and remove the pawl 59 from engagement with the teeth 58. After the selected character is at the printing position, the cam 60 cooperates with the pawl 59 to allow the spring to move the pawl 59 into engagement with the teeth 58 on the hollow shaft to prevent axial movement of the hollow shaft 5. As soon as the selected character has been printed, the cam 60 moves the pawl 59 to overcome the force of the spring and remove the pawl 59 from engagement with the teeth 58.

Various other types of detent means could be employed in addition to or rather than those described. For example, the top of one of the shafts 7 could have a square projection thereon for cooperation with a square hole in an additional detenting pawl (not shown). Thus, this pawl would always be moved into engagement with the square end at the top of one of the shafts 7, which would be located at a specific position in alignment with the position of the pawl.

Considering the operation of the rotary printing device of FIGS. 1 and 2, the actuation of a character key on the typewriter creates movements to position the. selected character at the printing position, which is defined by the face of the hammer 18 engaging the selected character. The actuation of the key will cause movement of at least one of the bellcranks 31 and 34 and the gear 17 when a different character is selected. Furthermore, it may result in movement of all three depending upon the selected character.

When actuation of the character key on the typewriter causes rotation of the gear 17, the support member 1 is rotated about its axis of rotation to position one of the type heads 6 at the printing position. Simultaneously, the bellcrank 31, if it is actuated, causes axial movement of the hollow shaft 26. The axial motion of the hollow shaft 26 is translated by the hollow shaft 23 into rotation of the hollow shaft 12 whereby the sun gear 11 rotates the planetary gears 10. As a result, the type heads 6 rotate about their axes of rotation, which are the axes of the shafts 7, to position one of the vertical columns of characters in the vertical plane of the printing position.

Because of the connection of the hollow shaft 26 to the hollow shaft 5 through the pin 25 riding in the axial slot 33, the connection of the hollow shaft 26 to the hollow shaft 23 through the pin 25 in the cam slot 24, and the connection of the hollow shaft 23 to the hollow shaft 12 through the pin 21 and the axial slot 22, there is no relative motion between the sun gear 11 and the planetary gears due to rotation of the hollow shaft 5. However, hollow shaft 26 due to movement of the bellcrank 31 creates rotation of the type heads 6 about their axes of rotation while the type heads 6 are being rotated due to rotation of the support member 1 by the hollow shaft 5.

Axial movement of the support member 1 and the type heads 6, which are connected to the support member 1. also occurs simultaneously with the other previously mentioned movements. The amount of movement of the bellcrank 34 determines the particular horizontal row of characters to be presented at the printing position.

With a specific one of the type heads 6 being disposed adjacent the hammer 18 and one of the vertical columns.

on this specific type head 6 being disposed in the vertical plane of the face of the hammer 18 and one of the horizontal rows being disposed in the horizontal plane of the printing face of the hammer 18, it is readily observed that only one character is available for printing. Since actuation of each of the keys on the keyboard creates a distinct movement of the gear 17 and the bellcranks 31 and 34, each of the characters is readily selected for positioning at the printing position.

As previously mentioned, the detent means move into appropriate engagement after the selected character is at its printing position through movement of the shaft 57.

These pawls are withdrawn from engagement after the selected character is printed by movement of the hammer It should be understood that the pivotaly mounted hammer 18 is biased towards engagement with the selected character by a spring (not shown). A cam 61, which is secured to the shaft 57, cooperates with a portion of the hammer 18 to overcome the force of the spring and maintain the hammer 18 away from engagement with the character until it is in the printing position.

If desired, axial motion of the support member 1 could be eliminated by moving only the type heads 6. The modification of FIGS. 4 and 5 discloses this type of arrangement wherein a support member 70 has a disc 71 with a hollow shaft 72 extending downwardly therefrom. The hollow shaft 72 corresponds to the hollow shaft 5 of FIGS. l-3.

Each of a plurality of shafts 73 'has its upper end rotatably mounted in the disc 71 while its lower end carries one of the planetary gears 10, which mesh with the sun gear 11. Each of the shafts 73 has one of the type heads 6 mounted thereon for rotation therewith. The shaft 73 and the type head 6 thereon have cooperating means (not shown) to allow the type head 6 to slide thereon but not rotate with respect thereto.

A stop 74 is secured to the lower end of each of the shafts 73 above the planetary gear 10 to limit downward movement of an annular plate 75. The annular plate 75 has a central opening 76 (see FIG. 5) for receiving the hollow shaft 72. The plate 75 has a plurality of slots 77 in its periphery for fitting about the shafts 73.

' The plate 75 is attached to a shaft 78, which is disposed Within the hollow shaft 72, by a plurality (one shown) of members 79, which extend through axial slots (one shown) in the hollow shaft 72 and are secured to the shaft 78. Thus, when the shaft 78 is moved, it raises or lowers the plate 75 to move the type heads 6 along the shafts 73. In this arrangement, the shaft 72 is only rotated and not moved axially.

The shaft 12 is moved about its axis of rotation to position one of the vertical columns on the type heads 6 at the printing position in the same manner as described with respect to FIGS. 13. For clarity purposes, the remainder of the structure for rotating the shaft 12 has not been shown. However, the shaft 12 must rotate whenever the hollow shaft 72 rotates in the same manner as it is necessary for the shaft 12 to rotate when the hollow shaft 5 is rotated.

In this embodiment, the shaft 78 is moved axially by the bellcrank 34 in the same manner that the hollow shaft 5 is moved axially by the bellcrank 34 in the modification of FIGS. 1-3. Of course, the shaft 78 rotates whenever the hollow shaft 72 rotates because of its connection through the anular plate 75 to the support member 70.

An advantage of this invention is that a small size printing head may have a large number of characters available for printing. Another advantage of this invention is that the printing head may be quickly moved to position a selected character for printing. Still another advantage of this invention is that very short amounts of movement are required for selection of the character to be printed.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary printing device comprising:

a rotatably mounted support means;

a plurality of type heads rotatably mounted on said support means;

each of said type heads having its axis of rotation disposed substantially the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of said support means;

each of said type heads having a plurality of characters arranged on its periphery in parallel rows and parallel colunms;

and means to position one of said characters on one of said type heads at a printing position by simultaneous movement of said support means about its axis of rotation, of each of said type heads about its axis of rotation, and of said type heads axially;

said positioning means including means to prevent rotation of each of said type heads about its axis of rotation due to rotation of said support means.

2. A rotary printing device comprising:

a rotatably mounted support means;

a plurality of type heads rotatably mounted on said support means;

each of said type heads having its axis of rotation disposed substantially the'same radial distance from the axis of rotation of said support means;

each of said type heads having a plurality of characters arranged on its periphery in parallel rows and parallel columns;

and means to cause simultaneous movement of said support means about its axis of rotation, of each of said type heads about its axis of rotation, and of said type heads axially whereby one of said characters on one of said type heads is positioned at a printing position;

said simultaneous moving means including means to prevent rotation of each of said type heads about its axis of rotation due to rotation of said support means.

3. A rotary printing device comprising:

a rotatably mounted support means;

a plurality of type heads rotatably mounted on said support means;

each of said type heads having its axis of rotation disposed substantially the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of said support means;

each of said type heads having a plurality of characters arranged on its periphery in parallel rows and parallel columns;

a printing hammer having a face movable into engagement with one of said characters on one of said type heads;

and means to position said one character on said one type head for engagement by said face of said printing hammer, said positioning means including:

means to rotate said support means to position said one type head adjacent said printing hammer;

means to simultaneously rotate at least said one type head with respect to said support means to position one of said columns of characters on said one type head in the vertical plane of said face of said printing hammer;

means to simultaneously create relative axial movement between at least said one type head and said printing hammer to position one of said rows of characters on said one type head and said face of said printing hammer in the same horizontal plane;

and means to prevent rotation of at least said one type head about its axis of rotation due to rotation of said support means.

4. A rotary printing device comprising:

a rotatably mounted support means;

a plurality of type heads rotatably mounted on said support means;

each of said type heads having its axis of rotation disposed substantially the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of said support means;

each of said type heads having a plurality of characters arranged on its periphery in parallel rows and parallel columns; and means to position one of said characters on one of said type heads at a printing position, said positioning means including:

means to rotate said support means to position said one type head at the printing position; means to simultaneously rotate at least said one type head with respect to said support means to position one of said columns of characters on said one type head in the vertical plane of the printing position; means to simultaneously move at least said one type head axially to position one of said rows of characters in the horizontal plane of the printing position; and means to prevent rotation of at least said one type head about its axis of rotation due to rotation of said support means. 5. A rotary printing device comprising: a rotatably mounted support member; a plurality of type heads rotatably mounted on said support member; each of said type heads having its axis of rotation disposed substantially the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of said support member; each of said type heads having a plurality of characters arranged on its periphery in parallel rows and parallel columns; said support member having a centrally disposed hollow shaft extending from at least one side thereof; and means to position one of said characters on one of said type heads at a printing position, said positioning means including:

means to rotate said hollow shaft to rotate said support member about the axis of said hollow shaft to position said one type head at the printing position; means to simultaneously move at least said one type head axially to position one of said rows on said one type head at the printing position; means to simultaneously rotate at least said one type head with respect to said support member to position one of the columns on said one type head at the printing position; and means to prevent rotation of at least said one type head about its axis of rotation due to rotation of said support member. 6. A rotary printing device comprising: a rotatably mounted support member; a plurality of type heads rotatably mounted on said support member; each of said type heads having its axis of rotation disposed substantially the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of said support member; each of said type heads having a plurality of characters arranged on its periphery in parallel rows and parallel columns; said support member having a centrally disposed hollow shaft extending from at least one side thereof; and means to position one of said characters on one of said type heads at a printing position, said positioning means including:

means to rotate said hollow shaft to rotate said support member about the axis of said hollow shaft to position said one type head at the printing position; means to simultaneously move said hollow shaft axially to position one of said rows on said one type head at the printing position; means to simultaneously rotate at least said one type head with respect to said support member to position one of the columns on said one type head at the printing position;

and means to prevent rotation of at least said one type head about its axis of rotation due to ro- V tation of said support member.

7. A rotary printing device comprising:

a rotatably mounted support member; a

a plurality of type heads rotatably mounted on said support member;

each of said type heads having its axis of rotation disposed substantially the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of said support member;

each of said type heads having a plurality of characters arranged on its pheriphery in parallel rows and parallel columns;

said support member having a first hollow shaft extending from at least one side thereof and centrally disposed with respect thereto;

a second shaft disposed within said first hollow shaft and having its axis aligned with the axis of said first hollow shaft;

a third hollow shaft disposed within said first hollow shaft and surrounding said second shaft, said third hollow shaft having its axis aligned with the axes of said first hollow shaft and said second shaft;

means to prevent said third hollow shaft from moving axially;

and means to position one of said characters on one of said type heads at a printing position, said positioning means including:

means to rotate said first hollow shaft to rotate said support member about the axis of said first hollow shaft to position said one type head at the printing position;

means to simultaneously move a least said one type head axially to position one of said rows on said one type head in the horizontal plane of the printing position;

means connected to said type heads to simultaneously rotate each of said type heads about its axis of rotation with respect to said support member;

means connecting said third hollow shaft to said type head connecting means for rotary movement therewith, said connecting means allowing said type head connecting means to move axially with respect to said third hollow shaft;

and means connecting said second shaft to said third hollow shaft to translate axial motion of said second shaft into rotary motion of said third hollow shaft whereby said type head connecting means rotates said type heads to position one of the columns on said one type head in the vertical plane of the printing position.

8. A rotary printing device comprising:

a rotatably mounted support member;

a plurality of type heads rotatably mounted on said support member;

each of said type heads having its axis of rotation disposed substantially the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of said support member;

each of said type heads having a plurality of characters arranged on its periphery in parallel rows and parallel columns;

said support member having a first hollow shaft extending from at least one side thereof and centrally disposed with respect thereto;

a second shaft disposed within said first hollow shaft and having its axis aligned with the axis of said first hollow shaft;

a third hollow shaft disposed within said first hollow shaft and surrounding said second shaft, said third hollow shaft having its axis aligned with the axes of said first hollow shaft and said second shaft;

means to prevent said third hollow shaft from moving axially;

and means to position one of said characters on one of said type heads at a printing position; said positioning means including:

means to rotate said first hollow shaft to rotate said support member about the axis of said first hollow shaft to position said one type head at the printing position; means to simultaneously move said first hollow shaft axially to position one of said rows on said one type head in the horizontal plane of the printing position; means connected to said type heads to simultaneously rotate each of said type heads about its axis of rotation with respect to said support member; means connecting said third hollow shaft to said type head connecting means for rotary movement therewith, said connecting means allowing said type head connecting means to move axially with respect to said third hollow shaft;

and means connecting said second shaft to said 7 third hollow shaft to translate axial motion of said second shaft into rotary motion of said third hollow shaft whereby said type head connecting means rotates said type heads to position one of said columns on said one type head in the vertical plane of the printing position. 9. A rotary printing device according to claim 8 in which said means connecting said second shaft to said third hollow shaft includes:

a cam slot formed in the wall of said third hollow shaft; a pin secured to said second shaft and extending through said cam slot; said first hollow shaft having an axial solt in its wall; and said pin riding in said axial slot. 10. A rotary printing device comprising: a rotatably mounted support member; a plurality of type heads rotatably mounted on said support member; each of said type heads having its axis of rotation disposed substantially the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of said support member; each of said type heads having a plurality of characters arranged on its periphery in parallel rows and parallel columns; said support member having a hollow shaft connected thereto and extending therefrom, said hollow shaft being centrally disposed with respect to said support member; each of said type heads having a gear connected thereto; a sun gear cooperating with each of said gears on said type heads; a shaft connected to said sun gear and having its axis aligned with the axis of said hollow shaft; and means to position one of said characters on one of said type heads at a printing position, said positioning means including:

means connected to said sun gear shaft to rotate said sun gear shaft about its axis; means to rotate said hollow shaft about its axis to cause rotation of said support member to position said one type head at the printing position; means to move at least said one type head axially; means to prevent rotation of each of said type heads about its axis of rotation due to rotation of said support member; and said means connected to said sun gear shaft, said hollow shaft rotation means, and said type head axially moving means being activated simultaneously to position said one character on said one type head at the printing position. 11. A rotary printing device comprising: a rotatably mounted support member;

13 a plurality of type heads rotatably mounted on said support member; each of said type heads having its axis of rotation disposed substantially the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of said support member; each of said type heads having a plurality of characters arranged on its periphery in parallel rows and parallel columns; said support member having a hollow shaft connected thereto and extending therefrom, said hollow shaft being centrally disposed with respect to said support member; each of said type heads having a gear connected thereto; a sun gear cooperating with each of said gears on said type heads; a shaft connected to said sun gear and having its axis aligned with the axis of said hollow shaft; and means to position one of said characters on one of said type heads at a printing position, said positioning means including:

means connected to said sun gear shaft to rotate said sun gear shaft about its axis; means to rotate said hollow shaft about its axis to cause rotation of said support member to position said one type head at the printing position; means to move said hollow shaft axially to move said type heads axially; means to prevent rotation of each of said type heads about its axis of rotation due to rotation of said support member;

and said means connected to said sun gear shaft,

said hollow shaft rotation means, and said hollow shaft axially moving means being activated simultaneously to position said one character on said one type head at the printing position. 12. The rotary printing device according to claim 11 including:

detent means to lock said hollow shaft against rotary and axial movement when said one character on said one type head is at the printing position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 548,726 10/1895 Seifried 197-50 622,472 4/1899 Hoofnagle 197-51 X 1,127,487 2/1915 Mohr 197-11 2,757,775 8/1956 Hickerson 197-49 2,919,002 12/1959 Palmer 197-16 3,205,305 9/ 1965 Clark et al. 3,272,302 9/1966 Segawa et al. 197-50 FOREIGN PATENTS 273,713 5/ 1914 Germany. 577,859 6/ 1933 Germany.

9,069 1905 Great Britain.

WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Examiner.

E. S. BURR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A ROTARY PRINTING DEVICE COMPRISING: A ROTATABLY MOUNTED SUPPORT MEANS; A PLURALITY OF TYPE HEADS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS; EACH OF SAID TYPE HEADS HAVING ITS AXIS OF ROTATION DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME RADIAL DISTANCE FROM THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS; EACH OF SAID TYPE HEADS HAVING A PLURALITY OF CHARACTERS ARRANGED ON ITS PERIPHERY IN PARALLEL ROWS AND PARALLEL COLUMNS; AND MEANS TO POSITION ONE OF SAID CHARACTERS ON ONE OF SAID TYPE HEADS AT A PRINTING POSITION BY SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS ABOUT ITS AXIS OF ROTATION, OF EACH OF SAID TYPE HEADS ABOUT ITS AXIS OF ROTATION, AND OF SAID TYPE HEADS AXIALLY; SAID POSITIONING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS TO PREVENT ROTATION OF EACH OF SAID TYPE HEADS AOUT ITS AXIS OF ROTATION DUE TO ROTATION OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS. 